DEA environmental processes for projects/activities in Antarctica

Abstract

Under the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), there are various environmental processes administered by the Department of Environmental Affairs' (DEA) that are applicable to South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) / DEA/ other projects operating in Antarctica. Principal Investigators / Group Leaders are bound to the following legislative frameworks, under South Africa' s Antarctica Treaties Act No. 60 of 1996, that are applicable to SANAP' s operational areas in Antarctica:

Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty/ Madrid Protocol (Annexes I-VI) Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS) Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)

Under the Madrid Protocol: Annex I (Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)) outlines the EIA processes (administered by DEA) with regard to the impact of an activity being "more or less than minor or transitory.

Annex II (Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora) states that "Taking or harmful interference shall be prohibited, except in accordance with a permit". Therefore, any collections or interference with fauna and flora shall be indicated to DEA for permitting purposes. Annexes Ill and IV (Waste Management and Marine Pollution) have been included in SANAP' s Waste Management Handbook. Annex V (Area Protection and Management) pertains to Antarctic Specially Protected/Managed Areas (ASPA/ASMA) and Historic Sites and Monuments (HSM). South Africa currently has none in its operational areas, although these need to be considered when operating at other stations. Annex VI (Liability arising from Environmental Emergencies) deals with the establishment of a liability regime in accordance with Article 16 of the Madrid Protocol.

UnderCCAS: Reporting annually on the number of seals killed or captured.